Improvement in feed-water heaters



R. H. SHULTIS.

FEED-WATER HEATER. No.'185,Z66, Patented Dec. 12, 1876.

ATTESTI lNVENTURI W 4. firm m I I B13 this q iarnzgs: WM @Mumfi M T" EGRAPHIC CDJLY ROBERT H. SHULTIS,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN FEED-WATER HEATERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 185,266, dated December12, 1876; application filed July 20, 1876.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. SHULTIS, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented certain Improvements on Feed- Water Heaters, ofwhich the following is a specification This invention relates moreespecially to what are called open heaters for high-pressure boilers,the object sought being the avoidance of back-pressure, and the moreperfect contact of the feed-water and the exhaust steam.

My invention consists in the combination of a water-distributin g cap atthe top of a feedwater heater, provided with an annular sprinkler nearthe outer edge or periphery thereof, and with a central steam-escapepipe, of a conical or flared steam-deflector, to direct the steam firstclose out to the sprinkler-pipe, and thence inward to the escape-pipe,and the exhaust-steam pipe, flared at the top to partially inclose orsurround the center or apex of the deflector; also, in the peculiarconstruction of the annular sprinkler, all substantially as hereinafterspecified.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical midsection of a heater embodyingmy improvements. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same in the planeof the line or m, Fig. l, the view showing the upper half of the heater.

Let A represent the cylindrical body of an ordinary feed-water heater;B, the feed-water inlet; 0, the feed-water outlet; D, the exhaustpipefrom the engine; E, the escape-pipe, and F the outlet for the sediment.

In the precise construction shown, the exhaust-pipe D is carried in toabout the center of the heater, and then turned upward, the upperextremity being flared or trumpetshaped, as shown. From the cap G of theheater, directly over the flared mouth of the exhaust, is suspended acorrespondingly coneshaped deflector, H, arranged concentricallytherewith. This arrangement serves to throw the spent steam outwardlyall around, so that it impinges fully and directly upon the feedwaterentering the heater through apertures in an annular sprinkler, I. Thissprinkler is shown as formed partly in the cast-iron cap G and partly ina casting bolted thereto. This I consider a good method of construction,as it avoids a core in casting. It may,

however, be an annular pipe, distinct from the cap, but arranged withreference to the exhaust, substantially as shown.

The manner of constructing and putting together the parts abovedescribed may be varied without departing from my invention; and I donot confine myself to precisely that shown.

I am aware that sprinklers for admitting feed-water, in connection withan exhaustpipe arranged to throw the spent steam upon the saidsprinklers, is a very old device in heaters and condensers, and I makeno claim to this. These have generally been constructed, however, insuch a manner that only a part of the steam comes in contact with thefeed-water, and the condensed steam and water from the supply-pipe areapt to get into the exhaust, and pass thence to the cylinder of theengine. More than this, the impinging of the steam against thesprinkler-pipe, and the concave plate usually placed above it,

' serves to produce back-pressure on the engine. In my improvedconstruction the steam is deflected and spread without appreciable lossof force, and every part of it is brought into direct contact with acylindrical sheet of falling feed-water, while it does not touch thesprinkler-pipe at all.

The ordinary heaters, as now constructed, have fiat bottoms, and nosuitable provision is made for the reception and removal of the largequantities of mud and other sedimentary matter liable to collect inheaters where muddy and impure waters are used. To remedy this I providethe heater with a conical or hopper-shaped bottom, J, having an outletor blow-oil pipe, F. When the cock or valve in this pipe is opened, thedownward pressure of the water, assisted by the funnel shape of thebottom, readily forces out the accumulated sediment without for a momentdisarranging the operation of the heater.

Where a hand-hole at the side is employed for this purpose, as in theordinary heater, the engine must be stopped while the sediment is beingremoved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the cap G, provided with an annular sprinkler, I,and central escape-pipe E, the deflector H, situated concentrically withthe said cap, and reachingnearly onehalf inade separate, perforated, andbolted thereto, as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed any name in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses.

R. H. SHULTIS.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR G. FRASER, HENRY OONNETT.

